The South and the Slavery
ControversyChapter 16
1791: 4,000 bales of cotton are produced1849: 2, 246, 900 bales of cotton are produced
6 cents a lb. to 14 cents in 1857
Expanded into Arkansas and Texas
Crop increase: 2,500,000 bales in 1850 to 5,300,000 in 1860Crop Value: In 1800, $8 million: In 1860, $250 million
The invention which changed
the South, cotton and
slavery.
The invention which changed
the South, cotton and
slavery.
Whitney Ends the Fiber Famine
• Cotton gin invented in 1793– 50 times more effective than hand picking
• Raising cotton more profitable– South needs slavery more than ever for “King Cotton”
New England factories flourish with Southern cotton
Cotton Gin
Increased exports for the SouthPlanters became rich
Increased demand for slaves
Effects
Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin
Slaves Using the Cotton Slaves Using the Cotton GinGin
•Total U.S. population
was 3.5 million…
•700,000 slaves in the U.S. at this
time.
•Still bought slaves
through the slave trade.
•Total U.S. population was 18
million
•2 million slaves in the U.S. at this time.
•1808, importation of slaves was illegal
•Slave trade within the U.S.
•Increase of slave population was
from natural reproduction
33 million U.S. population, 4 million slaves in the South
Map Crops in South
COTTON COTTON BELTBELT, Cotton , Cotton
KingdomKingdom
•Southern society was Southern society was similar to a similar to a Feudal systemFeudal system
that existed in Europe that existed in Europe during the Dark and Middle during the Dark and Middle Ages…..(Ages…..(Manorial System)Manorial System)
•Caste system:Caste system: difficult to difficult to move up the social ladder.move up the social ladder.
•Based on white supremacy Based on white supremacy and the slave was inferior.and the slave was inferior.
Plantation Plantation owners owners
AristocracyAristocracyMiddle Middle ClassClassSmall Small
farmersfarmersPoor Poor
WhitesWhites
Free Blacks, 2Free Blacks, 2ndnd class citizens class citizens
Slaves---no rights, considered Slaves---no rights, considered propertyproperty
No No political political or civil or civil rights.rights.
Upper Upper classclass
Owned some Owned some slaves. Achieve slaves. Achieve
American American DreamDream
Owned no Owned no slaves….Hated white slaves….Hated white
upper class…upper class…American American DreamDream
Characteristics Characteristics of the of the
Antebellum Antebellum SouthSouth
Characteristics Characteristics of the of the
Antebellum Antebellum SouthSouth
1.1. Primarily agrarian.Primarily agrarian.
2.2. Economic power shifted from the Economic power shifted from the “upper South” to the “lower South.”“upper South” to the “lower South.”
3.3. ““Cotton Is King!”Cotton Is King!” * 1860--> 5 mil. bales a yr. * 1860--> 5 mil. bales a yr. (57% of total US exports). (57% of total US exports).
4.4. Very slow development of Very slow development of industrialization.industrialization.
5.5. Rudimentary financial system.Rudimentary financial system.
6.6. Inadequate transportation system.Inadequate transportation system.
•At the Constitutional Convention At the Constitutional Convention •3/5’s Compromise3/5’s Compromise•1807, imported slaves was abolished in the U.S.1807, imported slaves was abolished in the U.S.•Fugitive Slave LawFugitive Slave Law
•90% of Europe’s cotton came from the South by 186090% of Europe’s cotton came from the South by 1860•1/2 of U.S. exports were from cotton1/2 of U.S. exports were from cotton•More money invested in slaves than land and tools---$2 More money invested in slaves than land and tools---$2 billionbillion
Conditions on a slave ship were horrible. This was called the Middle Passage.
Conditions on a slave ship were horrible. This was called the Middle Passage.
•The more slaves you had, the greater your social status
•2/3’s of presidents since independence were slaveowners
•Majority of Supreme Court justices were from the South
•More millionaires in the South than the NorthMore millionaires in the South than the North
•75% of the cotton harvest was done by 75% of the cotton harvest was done by plantations with10 or more slaves.plantations with10 or more slaves.
•Slave population grew from natural reproductionSlave population grew from natural reproduction•There was a slave trade within the U.S.There was a slave trade within the U.S.
Facts on slavery
Slaves being Slaves being sold at an sold at an
auction was auction was prevalent prevalent
throughout the throughout the Southern U.S. Southern U.S. right up to the right up to the
Civil War.Civil War.
•No political or civil rights to No political or civil rights to protect slavesprotect slaves
•U.S. was the largest slave U.S. was the largest slave institution in the world by institution in the world by
18601860
•U.S. produced 7/8’s of U.S. produced 7/8’s of world’s cotton supplyworld’s cotton supply
•Peculiar Institution, to own Peculiar Institution, to own another human being is another human being is
immoral.immoral.
•Cotton is King/King CottonCotton is King/King Cotton
•South was not willing to South was not willing to changechange
•Always felt isolated and Always felt isolated and threatened from the rest of threatened from the rest of
the U.S.the U.S.
Chart/Net Earnings
42%
45%
50%
55%
55%
56%
56%
65%
70%
74%5
7%
55% 47%
44%
44%
44%
39%
33%
30%
26%
1%
3%
1%
1%
5%
3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
White Black Free % of White to Black Population in % of White to Black Population in 18601860
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1 2+ 5+ 10+ 20+ 50+
Non Slaveholders SlaveholdersChart: Total Deaths
About 1,150,000 About 1,150,000 Southern white families Southern white families owned no slaves---75%owned no slaves---75%
About 384,000 Southern About 384,000 Southern white families owned 1 white families owned 1
slave or more---25%slave or more---25%
Total of 1,534,000 Southern white families in 1860……A total population of 7,981,000….
Total of 1,534,000 Southern white families in 1860……A total population of 7,981,000….
(Number of slaves)(Number of slaves)
%%
•Statistically Statistically only 25% of only 25% of
Southern Southern families families
owned slavesowned slaves
•384,000 384,000 Southern Southern families families
owned 1 or owned 1 or more slaves.more slaves.
•75% of 75% of Southern Southern
families did families did not own not own slaves.slaves.
Chart/slave owners
•Out of the 25% of slaveowners, here
is the breakdown of the number of
slaves.
•75% owned 1 to 9 slaves.
•22% owned 10 to 49 owned slaves.
•3% owned 50 or more slaves.
384,000384,000
1860
Slave MasterBrands
Slave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave Accoutrements
Slave muzzle
Slave tag, SC
Slave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave AccoutrementsSlave Accoutrements
Slave leg irons
Slave shoes
Slaves Slaves posing in posing in front of front of
their cabin their cabin on a on a
Southern Southern plantation.plantation.
Slaves Slaves posing in posing in front of front of
their cabin their cabin on a on a
Southern Southern plantation.plantation.
Slave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave Resistance1. “SAMBO” pattern of behavior used as
a charade in front of whites [the innocent, laughing black man caricature – bulging eyes, thick lips, big smile, etc.].
Slave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave ResistanceSlave Resistance2. Refusal to work hard.
3.Isolated acts of sabotage, incl. destroying equipment and poisoning the master’s food.
4.Escape via the Underground Railroad.
Runaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave AdsRunaway Slave Ads
Quilt Patterns as Secret Quilt Patterns as Secret MessagesMessages
Quilt Patterns as Secret Quilt Patterns as Secret MessagesMessages
The Monkey Wrench pattern, on the left, alerted escapees to gather up tools and prepare to flee; the Drunkard Path design, on the right, warned escapees not to follow a straight route.
•Slaves resorted to revolts in the Slaves resorted to revolts in the 13 colonies and later in the 13 colonies and later in the
southern U.S.southern U.S.
• 250 insurrections250 insurrections have been have been documented; between documented; between 1780 and 1780 and
18641864..
•91 African-Americans were 91 African-Americans were convicted of insurrection in convicted of insurrection in
Virginia alone. Virginia alone.
•First revolt in what became the First revolt in what became the United States took place in 1526 United States took place in 1526 at a Spanish settlement near the at a Spanish settlement near the
mouth of the Pee Dee River in mouth of the Pee Dee River in South Carolina. South Carolina.
Gabriel ProsserGabriel Prosser, (1776-1800), American leader of an aborted slave uprising, whose intention was to
create a free black state in Virginia. Born near Richmond, he was the son of an African mother
who instilled in him the love of freedom. Inspired perhaps by the success of the black revolutionaries of Haiti, he plotted with other slaves, notably Jack Bowler, in the spring of 1800 to seize the arsenal at Richmond and kill whites. On August 30, 1800August 30, 1800, as many as 1000 armed slaves gathered outside
Richmond ready for action. A torrential downpour and thunderstorm, however, washed away a bridge
vital to the insurrectionists' march; at the same time Governor James MonroeGovernor James Monroe, the future president, was informed of the plot and dispatched the state militia against them. Prosser and some 35 of his Prosser and some 35 of his
young comrades were captured and hanged.young comrades were captured and hanged.
The leader of an American slave revolt in Charleston, S.C., Denmark Vesey, b. Africa, 1767, d. July 2, 1822, had been owned by a slave-ship captain before he purchased his freedom (1800) with
$600 won in a street lottery. As a freedman in Charleston, he worked at
carpentry, became a leader of his church, and read antislavery
literature. Determined to strike a blow against the institution that had
victimized him, he devised an intricate conspiracy for an uprising in
Charleston and vicinity during the summer of 1822. Informers divulged
the plot, however, and 35 blacks, including Vesey, were executed.
Nat Turner RebellionNat Turner Rebellion
Nat TurnerNat Turner,, a slave owned by Joseph Travis of Southampton, Virginia, believed that he
had been chosen by God to lead a slave rebellion. On 21st August, 1831,21st August, 1831, Turner and
seven fellow slaves, murdered Travis and his family. Over the next two days and
nights, Turner's band killed around 60 white people in Virginia. Turner had hoped that this action would cause a massive slave uprising but only 75 joined his rebellion. Over 3,000 members of the state militia
were sent to deal with Turner's gang, and they were soon defeated. In retaliation,
more than a hundred innocent slaves were killed. Turner went into hiding but was
captured six weeks later. Nat Turner was Nat Turner was executed on 11th November, 1831.executed on 11th November, 1831.
Nat Turner Nat Turner RebellionRebellion
Arrest of Nat Arrest of Nat TurnerTurner
Tree Nat Tree Nat Turner was Turner was
hung onhung on
Slave Revolts/Turner
Slave Revolts
Slave Revolts would lead Slave Revolts would lead plantation owners to develop a plantation owners to develop a
series of series of slave laws/codesslave laws/codes which which restricted the movement of the restricted the movement of the
slaves.slaves.•Slaves were not taught to read or writeSlaves were not taught to read or write
•Restricted to the plantationRestricted to the plantation•Slaves could not congregate after darkSlaves could not congregate after dark
•Slaves could not possess any type of firearmSlaves could not possess any type of firearm•A larger slave plantation than white in some A larger slave plantation than white in some
statesstates
Slave owners wanted to keep Slave owners wanted to keep their slaves ignorant of the their slaves ignorant of the
outside world because learning outside world because learning about life beyond the plantation about life beyond the plantation could lead to more slave revolts could lead to more slave revolts
and wanting to escape.and wanting to escape.
Slave Laws
Slave Codes of the State of Georgia, 1848
SEC. I. CAPITAL OFFENSES.SEC. I. CAPITAL OFFENSES.
1. Capital crimes when punished with 1. Capital crimes when punished with death.death.
The following shall be considered as capital offences, when committed by a slave or free person of color: insurrection, or an attempt to
excite it; committing a rape, or attempting it on a free white female; murder of a free white
person, or murder of a slave or free person of color, or poisoning of a human being; every and each of these offences shall, on conviction, be
punished with death.
Georgia Slave Code, 1848Georgia Slave Code, 1848
2. Punishment of free persons of color 2. Punishment of free persons of color for encouraging slavesfor encouraging slaves.
If any free person of color commits the offence of encouraging or enticing away any slave or slaves, for the purpose of, and with the intention to aid
and assist such slave or slaves leaving the service of his or their owner or owners, or in
going to another state, such person so offending shall, for each and every such offence, on
conviction, be confined in the penitentiary at hard labor for one year.
Georgia Slave Code, 1848 Georgia Slave Code, 1848
3. Punishment for teaching slaves or 3. Punishment for teaching slaves or free persons of color to read.free persons of color to read.
If any slave, Negro, or free person of color, or any white person, shall teach any other slave, Negro,
or free person of color, to read or write either written or printed characters, the said free person
of color or slave shall be punished by fine and whipping, or fine or whipping, at the discretion of
the court.
Abolitionist Movement
Abolitionist Movement 1816 American Colonization Society
created (gradual, voluntary emancipation.
British Colonization Society symbol
Abolitionist MovementAbolitionist Movement Create a free slave state in Liberia,
WestAfrica.
No real anti-slavery sentiment in the North in the 1820s & 1830s.
Gradualists Immediatists
Anti-Slavery Alphabet
Anti-Slavery Alphabet
Anti-Slavery PamphletAnti-Slavery PamphletAnti-Slavery PamphletAnti-Slavery Pamphlet
•Abolitionists believed slavery was immoral…..Peculiar institution or it is odd, strange or weird to own another human being.
•Abolitionists argued slavery was immoral because it violated the ideals that this country was founded on.
•All men are created equal (DOI)•If the U.S. was to succeed as a democratic society, slavery had to be abolished
Abolitionists
Abolitionism: Division and Opposition
Abolitionism: Division and Opposition
Abolitionism forced the churches to face the question of slavery head-on, and in the 1840s the Methodist and Baptist churches each split into northern and
southern organizations over the issue of slavery
Even the abolitionists themselves splintered
More conservative reformers wanted to work within established institutions,
using churches and political action to end slavery
Abolitionism forced the churches to face the question of slavery head-on, and in the 1840s the Methodist and Baptist churches each split into northern and
southern organizations over the issue of slavery
Even the abolitionists themselves splintered
More conservative reformers wanted to work within established institutions,
using churches and political action to end slavery
William Lloyd Garrison (1801-1879)
William Lloyd Garrison (1801-1879) Slavery & Masonry
undermined republicanvalues.
Immediate emancipation with NO compensation.
Slavery was a moral, notan economic, issue.
R2-4
Picture/Garrison
•Through his newspaper, The Liberator, William Lloyd Garrison spoke out against
slavery and for the rights of black Americans for 35 years. The tone of the paper was
established in the first issue of the paper with Garrison's editorial entitled, "To the Public,”
“On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a
man whose house is on fire, to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hand of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from
the fire into which it has fallen; -- but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the
present. I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single
inch -- AND I WILL BE HEARD”.
Garrison, a leader among American
abolitionists, delivered his views
with great conviction, as well as great foresight.
"Posterity," he concluded in the
editorial, "will bear testimony that I
was right.”
The LiberatorThe Liberator
Premiere issue January 1, 1831
R2-5
Picture/Douglass
Frederick Douglass•Escaped slave in 1838
•Mother was a slave and father was white
•Great speaker against slavery
•Bought his freedom for $600.00
•Wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
•Editor of the North Star--Abolitionist paper
•Friends with Garrison
•Organized the 54th Black Regiment of Mass
Frederick Douglass•Escaped slave in 1838
•Mother was a slave and father was white
•Great speaker against slavery
•Bought his freedom for $600.00
•Wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
•Editor of the North Star--Abolitionist paper
•Friends with Garrison
•Organized the 54th Black Regiment of Mass
Reading/On Douglass
After hearing Frederick Douglass speak in Bristol, England, in 1846, Mary A.
Estlin wrote to an American abolitionist:
“There is but one opinion of him. Wherever he goes he arouses
sympathy in your cause and love for himself…..Our expectations were
highly roused by his narrative, his printed speeches, and the eulogisms
of the friends with whom he has been staying: but he far exceeds the picture we had formed both in
outward graces, intellectual power and culture and eloquence.”
Sojourner Truth (1787-1883)
or Isabella Baumfree
Sojourner Truth (1787-1883)
or Isabella Baumfree
1850 The Narrative of Sojourner Truth R2-10
Harriet Tubman(1820-1913)Harriet Tubman(1820-1913) Helped over 300
slaves to freedom. $40,000 bounty on
her head. Served as a Union
spy during the Civil War.
“Moses”
Picture/Stowe
•Harriet Beecher Stowe, Abolitionist, authored the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin
•Book was used as propaganda to
show the inhumanity of
slavery.
•Southerners were enraged by this
book and called it “lies”.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
1852
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
1852 Sold 300,000
copies inthe first year.
2 million in a decade!
Sold 300,000 copies inthe first year.
2 million in a decade!
Reading/Tom’s Cabin
In the closing scenes of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s brutal master, Simon Legree, orders the
$1200.00 slave savagely beaten (to death) by two fellow slaves. Through tears and blood Tom exclaims,
“No! no! no! my soul ain’t yours Mas’r! You haven’t bought it-----ye can’t buy it! It’s been
bought and paid for by One that is able to keep it. No matter, no matter, you can’t harm me!” “I can’t” said Legree, with a sneer; “we’ll see----we’ll see! Here, Sambo, Quimbo, give this dog
such a breakin’ in as he won’t get over this month!”
Economically profitable
Slavery was in the Bible
Duty of Southerners to Christianize the slaves, Positive Good
Provided a better life for slaves than in Africa, Positive Good
5th Amendment legalized and protected slavery because slaves were considered property.
Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda
Southern Pro-SlaverySouthern Pro-SlaveryPropagandaPropaganda
•Gag ruleGag rule was passed in Congress which nothing
concerning slavery could be discussed.
•Under the gag rulegag rule, anti-anti-slavery petitionsslavery petitions were
not read on the floor of Congress
•The rule was renewed in each Congress between
1837 and 1839.
•In 1840 the House passed an even stricter rule, which refused to which refused to accept all anti-slavery accept all anti-slavery petitions.petitions. On Dec 3,
1844, the gag rule was repealed
1. SOUTHERN SLAVERY THE PECULIAR INSTITUTION Prior to 1791 slavery was not profitable
Cotton Gin----Eli Whitney---1791 South relied on cotton and slaves. Cotton production doubles every 10 years
King Cotton
2. Southern society3. Facts on Slavery
4. Why did the South fight a war to preserve slavery when ¾ of Southerner’s did not own slaves?
American Dream
5. SOCIAL OUTCRY AGAINST SLAVERYRise of abolitionists----1830 to 1860
William Lloyd GarrisonFrederick DouglassHarriet TubmanHarriet Beecher Stowe
Arguments For slavery Against slavery
6. Did slaves revolt against slavery?Slave revolts Slave codes
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